DAILY SCOPE: National Strategy to Confront Threats, Terrorism
Local Editor
NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:
AS-SAFIR:
Armed Terrorists Gather Fighters for Aleppo
Two Meetings in Washington and Riyadh to Confront ‘Extremism'
AL-AKHBAR:
Ain el-Tineh Dialogue Looks into ‘National Strategy to Confront Terrorism'
Aoun-Hariri Meeting to Revive Government
AL-LIWAA:
Ain el-TIneh Dialogue to Confront Threats, Berri-Hariri Meeting Expected
AL-JOUMHOURIA:
Lebanon Under Discussion: Cabinet and Strategy
THE DAILY STAR:
FUTURE, Hizbullah Open Anti-Terror Talks
Food Safety Training Center to Raise Standards
Lebanese Newspapers on Thursday 19-02-2015 focused on the sixth round of talks of the Hizbullah-Future movement dialogue, and the meeting of former PM Saad Hariri and head of the Change and Reform Bloc MP Michel Aoun. On the regional level, papers shed light on the Aleppo battles and the situation in Libya.
Touching on the Syrian file, a military source told as-Safir daily that the "reaction of the armed groups in Aleppo was ‘hysterical'," explaining that the mosques started calling the armed terrorists for Jihad in the different villages of Northern Aleppo. Also, ambulances were in a state of non-stop transportation of injured terrorists to Turkish hospitals, at the time a few operation rooms were formed to lead the battle in an attempt of the terrorists to retrieve what they had lost in the battle with the Syrian army.
Syrian troops had captured some towns and districts north of Aleppo on Tuesday, although reports earlier Wednesday showed that government forces have retreated from the towns of Ratyan and DweirZeytoun.
More than 80 militants have been killed in two days of clashes with government forces in the area.
Pro-government forces have also blocked the main road connecting Aleppo to the Turkish border, maintaining their control over the road from the positions they set up on Tuesday. The clashes are reportedly continuing more on the ground as bad weather is preventing Syrian air forces from bombarding the militants' positions.
The escalation of government efforts around the strategic city is mainly aimed at cutting the supply lines of the terrorists. Various Takfiri groups, including al-Nusra Front and other Western-backed terrorists, are based in the area and continue their armed militancy against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
Media backing the armed groups has been shedding light on the battles taking place in Retyan area, considering it the forefront of battle. Ground sources told as-Safir that the battles taking place in Ratyan, which the terrorist groups think is a decisive battle over existence, are hit and run fights, denying that the terrorist armed groups have settled there completely.
Also, according to the paper, opposition sources have reported direct foreign intervention in the battles in North Aleppo, where op. rooms were formed to include all the sides in one front; while further information said that Western officials and generals are in the battlefield and are leading the battles, which gives the fighting in Syria's North that are close to the Turkish borders an ‘'international' nature.
On the Lebanese security file, Army Chief General John Qahwaji said that the security status in Lebanon is under control owing to the measures and the pre-emptive procedures conducted by the Lebanese army in confronting the terrorism and its threats.
"After the Arsal battle, we moved from the position of defense to attack," As-Safir quoted his visitors as saying.
According to the source, Qahwaji highlighted that what the army has achieved so far in its battle with terrorism is a major accomplishment that states that have more capacity and capability than Lebanon were unable to reach.
As-Safir paper came to know that the ambiance of the Hizbullah-Future sixth session of talks was calm, positive, serious and pragmatic; the meeting lasted for two hours and a half, with consensus from both sides on the national strategy to confront terrorism, leaving the door open as well to other steps that come under the title of easing sectarian tension.
On the same note, sources close to the conferees said that the dialogue session focused on the national strategy to combat terrorism, but none of the conferees presented a complete vision to such a strategy but they all rather took off from the speeches of Saad Hariri and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and their agreement to the importance of finding a solution.
On another domestic issue, an-Nahar newspaper reported that Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun held talks Wednesday evening with the Future movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri in the first public meeting between the two leaders since at least five years.
Hariri received Aoun accompanied by Foreign Minister GebranBassil at the Center House, in the presence of former MP GhattasKhoury. Talks tackled the political situation in the country and the latest regional developments. Discussions continued over a dinner held by Premier Hariri in honor of General Aoun.
On the food safety file which still finds its way to headlines as an important national matter, in line with efforts to improve Lebanon's food safety standards, Industry Minister Hussein Hajj Hasan and the Lebanese Standards Institution (LIBNOR) announced the launch of a new food safety training center at LIBNOR in Sin al-Fil. "We are responsible for creating a new center for training owners and workers in the food industry. Management of food safety is necessary for health, for the image of Lebanon and our products," Hajj Hasan told The Daily Star.
Several ministries have a hand in ensuring food safety, including the ministries of Health, Economy and Trade and Agriculture. As for the Industry Ministry, Hajj Hasan explained that his focus was on defining the necessary technical regulations, quality control and training.
LIBNOR is a public institution affiliated with the Industry Ministry. With regard to food safety, it sets national food quality standards and certifies products according to international guidelines.
Source: al-Ahed news
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